Faucet valve element



Patented Oct. 26, 1948 Application'nimber 3o, 1944,`seria1N0.56-5,8'0

'i claim. (Pci. 25144160) i l This inventionrel'ates to washers or to the sealing elements of faucets, bibbs, or valves, and

Ihas for its object the provision of a closure or n `viash'er member which will, under all conditions of 'use, veffect ',aclosure with Aa valve seat,l irrespective :ofm the conditions of irregularity of the seat, valvecompression member, stem or 4variation "of coricentricity Yof the valve compression member A,

'It is 'old in this art to "suggest theA use of ,a `swivel disc as a carrier for a closurewasher, 'which swiyel discs permit a 'relative rotation of the washer with relation to thevalve seat, 'valve stem orcomp'ressioln member. These suggestions, however, have met with little favor because they have rnot provided a solution t the problemof leaking faucets, bibbs or valves, l,while such swivel discs permit in theory thewasher to engage the 'valve "seat and then remain stationary as the 'coinpression member is threaded down to lcompress the `washer yagainst the seat. They do not permit the washer to accommodate itself in; making the -dsure to Such -l'rregularmesas mchned Seats disc washer a-nexibiefe'oupling 'element which win ecoentricity of valve 'seatA and washer, irregularity ofmtlie formation of valve body, valve seat, and compression member, etc. n n lWe have dist-,overed that we are able to lovercome all theseprble'ms and provide Aa washer or closure member -which is of great durability, extremely eiiicient in accomplishing n va complete valve closure, `and which is self-adapting to all irregularity, and v is inexpensive to manufacture 'and install by Connecting the washer through the ,mediumbffa ilexible stem o r connecting element to the valve lcompression member.

In the drawings We have illustrated our inven- ,tion in such form las we believe will illustrate the same and its new principles as well as some o'fY its varied uses.

In the drawings): Y n n Figure 1 is an elevation partlynin section of one .fo1 m o f ffaucet, -or valve, illustrating a yclosure means embodying our inventtion and illustrating the same in closed position upon a valve seat.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental'sectional view of the assembly of Figure 'l illustrating the closure means in the position ofbeing compressed "against'an' -irregularseat Figure 3 is'an enlarged View of the washer element of Figures l and 2. w e i,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentalsectional view of a modied form of closure member embodying our invention. n n

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmental 'sectional view of a further modii'lcationof our invention.

Figure 6 is a any enlarged fragmental View of a still further modified form of our invention.

Figure l'7 is an enlarged elevation of another modied form of lclosure member embodying our.

invention. l H l U,Our invention may best be understood by "a brief explanation of its underlying principle which is o fconnectjing ,the washerudisc \I with the compression elementthrough tliemedium of a flexible stem 3. This fexible lstem may ybe formed asnillustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 as an integral extension ofthe washer disc jl. It'may also be formed asfillustrated in Figure 4 as a separate partea and jcined'tothe disc le by suitable means vor itmay be formed in a manner which Will provide between the compression stem and the iiex in all directions. B'y all directionswe mean Will permit tilting of the :closure Ydisc l to accommodate 'an inclined valve "seat "as illustrated 'in Figure'Z, will iiexin rotation to vprovide a's'wiveling "function and "will ex :in a direction 'transversely of thestem to 'allow for Droper'-a1ig`nment of the closure disc l with the valve seat even where lthe valve seat is eccentric with relation "to the axis ofthe compression element 2.

In theFigures 1, 2"and`3 the compression meinberZ is of acorn'inon formand is threaded vinto tlebody 5 of `a common form'of faucet. The valve disc TI 'is adapted to engage the valve seat '4 to 1close communication between the passages 6 andf'l 'provided on opposite sides of tl'ie'partition.

The Compression element "2 is customarily screwedintoithebodyb to force the valve disc agains'tthe seat il. t n

In 'th'smoiiiiication tl'ieexibl'e "stein 3 is'connected with `the compression' Ymember by forcing the vsameinto 'an axial bore 9 so that it isfriction' ally held. The exible stem i'sfo'rmed during the molding ofthe disc 'i and'is thus formed of rubber or smi-iar'eexiblematerial such" as neoprenemor The bore 9 is preferably smooth. In order to avoid entrapment of air in the bore 9 during insertion of the stem 3, any suitable means may be provided which will vent the bore. In the illustration of Figures 1, 2 and 3 we have shown the stem 3 as formed with helical threads ID (Figure 3). These threads I0 may be of an external diameter larger than the internal diameter of the bore 9, thereby providing for increased friction and at the same time providing for the escape of air. Any suitable rib formation will, however, accomplish the same function so We have referred to these threads in the claims as ribs. The stem 3 may be formed hollow as indicated at I I to permit compression thereof in 1insertion into the bore 9 to permit frictional engagement within the bore without distorting the threads or ribs to such an extent that the grooves therebetween are completely closed.

A further function of the cavity II is to limit the radial expansive force exerted by the flexible stem 3 against the walls of the bore 9 due to absorption of water. During the life of a device of this type the material employed will absorb water from the system and upon such absorption will expand. If the bore II were not provided, that is, if the stem 3 were solid, absorption of water would cause the stem 3 to expand in the bore 9 to such an extent that it would become firmly locked therein and incapable of turning relative to the bore, thus preventing proper functioning of the device and rendering breakage of the stem more likely. By providing the cavity II in the stem, it will be seen that absorption of water with the resultant expansion of the material will allow the material of the stern to expand inwardly without materially increasing the pressure on the walls of the bore 9. Thus, it will be seen that in operation the disc portion I will rst be brought into Contact with the seat 4, and further rotation of the stem 2 will cause relative rotation between that stem and the element I3. This will probably result in a slight slippage between the lowermost threads I and the bore 9 and torsional twisting oi. the flexible stem 3 therea-bove. After the valve is seated and suiiicient pressure exerted to eilect a proper seal, the torsional strain in the iiexible stem 3 will be relieved since the stress in that stern will tend to twist the upper part thereof in the bore 9 to bring the upper portion of the stem 3 to such position that the internal stresses are relieved. By insuring a relatively light radial pressure between the stem and the bore, that result will naturally be accomplished, and such light pressure is assured by provision of the cavity II. It is to be further noted that the cavity I I permits the stem 3 to be radially compressed for ready insertion into the bore 9 upon assembly of the device. The relative dimensions` of the cavity II and the stem 3 are not critical, but it will be apparent that the cavity must be sui'liciently large to permit substantial compression of the stem without complete closure or filling of the cavity.

In the modication of Figure 4 we have illustrated the disc Ia as separately formed and secured to the stem 3a by a suitable fastener I2 which is threaded into the rubber or other suitable flexible material of which the stem 3a is constructed. In this modification increased frictional engagement between the compression member 2 and the stem 3% is provided by circular ribs I l)a which are longitudinally grooved to air vent the bore 9a. In this modication the disc Ia may swivel withirelation to the compression element 2 at either the fastening I 2 or within the-bore 9a.

In the modifications of Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, we have shown an anti-friction washer I3 which may have a retaining flange I4, the function of which is to retain the discs I and Ia. These antifriction washers I3 are free of the compression member and provide an anti-friction bearing member which is interposed between the sealing discs I and Ia and provide bearing elements to permit relative rotation between the compression stems and the said discs. The anti-friction washers I3 are apertured for the stems 3 and 3a and permit freedom of movement of the sealing discs I and Ia so that the said discs may move freely both in rotation and laterally with respect to the base surface of the compression stems to accommodate for valve or seat irregularities.

In the modified form of our invention as illustrated in Figure 5, similar parts have been designated with similar numerals with Ithe addition of an exponent b thereto. In this modification wehave shown the closure disc Ib as performing the functions of a packing gland for the compression element 2b in the body 5b as well as the closure element for the partition valve seat 4b. To accomplish this the faucet or valve is modified from the conventional form of Figure 1 to form a smooth bore I5 in the body 5 below the threads into which the compression member 2b is threaded.

The anti-friction washer I 3b is a at Washer and peripherally engages within the smooth bore 9b. The disc Ib may have a fluid pressure annular expansion skirt I6. In this modification the valve seat 4b is a high seat that is extended from the partition of the valve so that the closure disc does not leave the bore 9b when engaging the said seat 4b.

In the modication of Figure 6, the Valve is of the compression check type when the closure disc Ic is urged toward the seat ilc by means of a spring I'I. The spring I'I is a cylindrical coil and the flexible stem 3c is retained within the said coil. An anti-friction washer I3c is also employed against which the spring l'I rests, the spring being retained in the bore ilc of the compression element 2.

The modification of Figure 7 is similar to that of Figures 1, 2 and 3 except that the stem 3d has a smooth external surface and fits within a smooth bore 9d depending upon surface friction to retain the same in position. In this case a flat anti-friction washer ld is also employed. A longitudinal surface groove I 8 may be formed in the stem 3d or elsewhere to provide an air vent, thus permitting the stem 3d to be more easily inserted into the bore 9d.

We have herein illustrated our invention, together with its principle and operation in connection with several modifications which are illustrative of the many modifications our invention may take Within the spirit of our appended claim.

We claim:

The combination with a faucet having a valve stem and a co-acting valve seat, of a washer element comprising ra disc having an integral stem extending from the disc, the valve stem having a cylindrical bore formed therein, said integral stem having an open axial cavity extending inwardly from i-ts free end to provide for radial compression of said integral stem, means for moving the valve stem toward the seat to engage the valve disc therewith whereby the valve disc may accommodate itself to irregularities of the valve seat and may be arrested from rotation with reference to the seat as the valve stem is rotated to complete the compression between the disc and the seat.

ERNEST H. BUCKNELL. 5 RALPH E. BLETCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number Svirsky Dec. 5, 1944 

